VegNET Gippsland: From closure to opportunity Maffra jobs expo responds to Dicky Bill’s shutdown
3 March 2026
VegNET NSW: National Agriculture Day Celebrating horticulture in NSW
3 March 2026
VegNET WA Team Update
The past few months have been incredibly busy for the VegNET Western Australian team. We’re thrilled to welcome Chi Nguyen to the team as of last September. Chi has been a Regional Development Officer with Vegetables WA for a number of years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experienced to VegNET WA.
In December, Katrina Hill concluded her role with the VegNET WA team. During her time with the program, Katrina provided strong support to growers and contributed valuable knowledge and insight to VegNET activities. Her dedication and commitment to the vegetable industry are appreciated, and she has undoubtedly made a positive contribution. We thank Katrina for her efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
While our primary focus has been on working closely with growers to understand on the ground challenges and supporting practical, grower-led solutions, we have also had valuable opportunities to expand our extension activities. Participation in various initiatives have helped the team support innovation across the Western Australian vegetable industry.
Gatton AgTech Showcase and Lockyer Valley Tour
We were excited to be part of the Gatton AgTech Showcase and Lockyer Valley Tour in October 2025, alongside the Tasmanian and South Australian Regional Support Officers (RSOs). The tour was an amazing experience for the WA grower participants. Meeting growers and industry professionals from other states, observing new technologies, and learning about different processes offered incredible insight. The interactions sparked discussion, inspiration, and ideas that can be applied back home in WA.
An extension webinar presented by the VegNET RSOs following the tour offered another opportunity to share key learnings and insights with growers who were unable to attend in person. The webinar highlighted the standout technologies, observations from the farm visits and practical takeaways, ensuring the benefits of the tour reached a broader audience.
Overall, the Gatton AgTech Showcase and Lockyer Valley Study Tour reinforced the value of cross-regional collaboration and knowledge sharing, helping VegNET WA continue to support growers in exploring innovative solutions and strengthening industry connections.
WA Horticulture Update 2025
We attended the Western Australian Horticulture Update 2025, a biennial event held on 22 October 2025 at Mandoon Estate in the Swan Valley, bringing together growers, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders under the theme “Growing WA: Fresh Food, Sustainable Futures”.
The program featured expert presentations, panel discussions, research updates, and case studies focused on sustainability, innovation, and resilience, alongside strong networking opportunities through the trade show and sundowner.
A highlight was the keynote address, ‘WA 2040: Feeding the Future’, which examined how population growth, changing consumer expectations, and challenges such as water availability, labour shortages, and land constraints will shape future food production in WA.
Another standout session was delivered by Clare McClelland from the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance, who introduced a free carbon accounting tool developed with Sustenance Asia, supporting measurement of Scope 1 and 2 emissions and highlighting the growing importance of emissions management.
The event concluded with an evening sundowner, offering a relaxed setting for continued discussion and connection. Overall, the event provided valuable insights, practical learning and meaningful networking opportunities for attendees.
Bilingual chemical training
The VegNET Innovation Fund Bilingual Chemical Training project concluded this year with the delivery of the final bilingual training session by VEG Education in Perth. The project aimed to build the knowledge, skills and confidence of WA vegetable growers in the safe handling, storage and application of agricultural chemicals, while supporting compliance with industry regulations and best practice. By offering accessible bilingual training, the project helped remove language barriers and ensured all participants could fully engage with the material.
The final session was attended by 16 growers, all of whom achieved a 100 percent pass rate, highlighting both the effectiveness of the training and the commitment of participants to industry safety. Graduates are now well equipped to apply their knowledge on farm and to maintain safety for colleagues, the environment, and the broader community.
In addition to technical learning, the project encouraged knowledge sharing and collaboration, allowing growers to discuss real world challenges and learn from both trainers and peers.
“This was a great opportunity and extremely useful for growers. I learned so much more about chemical use and how to measure, mix, and spray properly. I strongly recommend this training to anyone working on a farm, especially those who handle chemicals.” PARTICIPANT
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year for VegNET WA, with a strong focus on collaboration, innovation and practical extension. Planned activities include a drone demonstration, sharing insights from the Gatton AgTech Showcase, and an OWL demonstration day in February 2026 featuring Dr Guy Coleman and an opportunity to see the technology operating in the field. Regional roadshows and additional chemical training are also planned, providing further opportunities for growers to build skills, explore new technologies and connect with industry experts.
Through ongoing partnerships with the national VegNET teams and industry stakeholders in other states, VegNET WA is also creating pathways for WA growers to participate in cross-regional research projects. These collaborations support knowledge exchange and ensure outcomes are relevant and applicable to local production systems, reinforcing VegNET WA’s continued commitment to delivering practical, grower-focused outcomes across Western Australia.